diff --git a/src/st/st-box-layout.c b/src/st/st-box-layout.c
index ae26cd76d..0aa5ef2e8 100644
--- a/src/st/st-box-layout.c
+++ b/src/st/st-box-layout.c
@@ -1213,3 +1213,14 @@ st_box_layout_insert_actor (StBoxLayout  *self,
   clutter_container_add_actor((ClutterContainer*) self, actor);
   st_container_move_child (ST_CONTAINER (self), actor, pos);
 }
+
+void
+st_box_layout_insert_before (StBoxLayout  *self,
+                             ClutterActor *actor,
+                             ClutterActor *sibling)
+{
+  g_return_if_fail (ST_IS_BOX_LAYOUT (self));
+
+  clutter_container_add_actor(CLUTTER_CONTAINER (self), actor);
+  st_container_move_before (ST_CONTAINER (self), actor, sibling);
+}
diff --git a/src/st/st-box-layout.h b/src/st/st-box-layout.h
index 54372d53c..f19a065d0 100644
--- a/src/st/st-box-layout.h
+++ b/src/st/st-box-layout.h
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ void     st_box_layout_insert_actor (StBoxLayout  *self,
                                      ClutterActor *actor,
                                      int           pos);
 
+void     st_box_layout_insert_before (StBoxLayout  *self,
+                                      ClutterActor *actor,
+                                      ClutterActor *sibling);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* _ST_BOX_LAYOUT_H */
diff --git a/src/st/st-container.c b/src/st/st-container.c
index 4d140a16a..0fb5eb462 100644
--- a/src/st/st-container.c
+++ b/src/st/st-container.c
@@ -159,6 +159,29 @@ st_container_move_child (StContainer  *container,
   clutter_actor_queue_relayout ((ClutterActor*) container);
 }
 
+void
+st_container_move_before (StContainer  *container,
+                          ClutterActor *actor,
+                          ClutterActor *sibling)
+{
+  StContainerPrivate *priv = container->priv;
+  GList *actor_item = NULL;
+  GList *sibling_item = NULL;
+
+  actor_item = g_list_find (priv->children, actor);
+  sibling_item = g_list_find (priv->children, sibling);
+
+  g_return_if_fail (actor_item != NULL);
+  g_return_if_fail (sibling_item != NULL);
+
+  priv->children = g_list_delete_link (priv->children, actor_item);
+  priv->children = g_list_insert_before (priv->children, sibling_item, actor);
+
+  st_container_update_pseudo_classes (container);
+
+  clutter_actor_queue_relayout (CLUTTER_ACTOR (container));
+}
+
 /**
  * st_container_get_children_list:
  * @container: An #StContainer
diff --git a/src/st/st-container.h b/src/st/st-container.h
index f5f04aa09..91f457f26 100644
--- a/src/st/st-container.h
+++ b/src/st/st-container.h
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ GList * st_container_get_focus_chain      (StContainer *container);
 void    st_container_move_child           (StContainer  *container,
                                            ClutterActor *actor,
                                            int           pos);
+void    st_container_move_before          (StContainer  *container,
+                                           ClutterActor *actor,
+                                           ClutterActor *sibling);
 GList * st_container_get_children_list    (StContainer *container);
 
 G_END_DECLS